The publishers of a controversial Junior Cert textbook have apologised for the ‘discriminatory’ way it depicted a traditional Irish family and said the section will now be replaced.
Furious parents contacted their TDs after coming across an activity in the Health and Wellbeing book, featured in the Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum.
On Tuesday, the Irish Daily Mail reported that politicians across the spectrum demanded the book be dropped from the curriculum.
A section entitled "All Different, All Equal," contrasts a ‘traditional Irish family’ with a mixed background one.
The Irish family eat "potatoes, bacon and cabbage every day," "do not like change or difference" and the children "get told off if we mix with people with a different religion from ours as they would be a bad influence."
"We do not like change or difference."
In contrast, the mixed-race family "love change and difference," eat "curry, pizza and Asian food," travel internationally, and visit art galleries.
"We love change and difference."
In a statement on Tuesday, the book’s publishers EdCo said the activity will now be replaced and apologised for the hurt it caused.
Their statement read: "By means of background and context, the main function of this Activity (‘Looking at Difference’) is designed to help students understand the importance of diversity in our lives, to introduce students to the Equal Status Acts & to highlight the types of discrimination they cover.
"Following the students’ introduction to the Equal Status Acts, the activity uses exaggeration and hyperbole to convey the nature and effects of inclusion and bias. On closer inspection, we now appreciate that our approach should have been different and accept that it has caused upset and anger, even though this was not our intention.
"We have taken the decision to replace this activity and we apologise for any hurt caused."
Despite the apology, there have been calls for Education Minister Norma Foley to explain why it was published in the first place.
Aontú Councillor Helen Duignan said: "Answers are still required from the minster and her department as to how this content was approved and assurances are sought that this type of Irish cultural stereotyping will not appear in our children’s books in the future."
Answers are still required from the Minster & her Department as to how this content was approved & assurances are sought that this type of Irish cultural stereotyping will not appear in our children's books in the future. @NormaFoleyTD1 @Education_Ire
— Helen Duignan AONTÚ (@AontuHelen) September 3, 2024
In a statement to the Mail, Ireland's Department of Education said it is the responsibility of each school to choose the resources it uses to teach the curriculum.
A spokeswoman said: "The curriculum specification and prescribed material for any subject are determined by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA).
"It is the responsibility of each individual school to select the resources (other than prescribed material) that it will use to support its implementation of the curriculum.
"Any concerns regarding material published in textbooks should be raised with the publisher themselves"
The offending material showcased Family A and Family B. Family A was four red-haired people all dressed in Aran jumpers, standing outside a thatched cottage in a rural setting with the father holding a shovel. The two children are Irish dancing in the background.
The reader is told the family does not like change and that all their relatives are Irish. They are not allowed to play ‘foreign games’ or watch television or movies that were produced outside of Ireland.
They all eat bacon and cabbage every day, watch the GAA and go to the Fleadh every summer, and are not allowed to mix with people of different religions.
Meanwhile, Family B shows a mixed race family. This family "love change and difference" and enjoy travelling around Europe and trying new foods and new experiences.
"We have relations in London and Australia and our family is part Irish, part Romanian and part Dutch," it states.
"Most years we house swap with a family in a different country. It is a great way to meet people and learn about other cultures and societies. It makes you realise that, when you get to know them, people are more alike than different."
Independent TD Carol Nolan said: "At first, I thought this was some kind of parody but astonishingly this is not the case.
"Anyone with an ounce of objectivity looking at these descriptions involving an ‘Irish family’ will immediately grasp the utterly absurd, hateful and sneering attitude that has been adopted.
"The typical traditional 'Irish family' is lampooned as insular, angry, petty and let’s be honest here, xenophobic and racist while the contrasting family in the presentation is apparently filled with outward looking insight, tolerance, and intelligence. It is almost inconceivable how this trash made its way into a Junior Cycle textbook. This depiction is entirely wrong-headed and must be removed."
A victory for parents and commonsense. We will no longer tolerate our identity and culture being the source of ridicule and scorn by an ill-informed and malicious progressivism
— Carol Nolan TD (@CNolanOffaly) September 4, 2024
Publisher sorry… https://t.co/QaWUYku5q3
Social Democrats education spokesman Gary Gannon told the Mail it should be removed "immediately," adding: "It is a reflection of a department that is out of touch and striving to be interesting but are failing the children when that’s what they are offering around inclusivity. They should go back to the drawing board. It’s pathetic."
*This article was originally published on Extra.ie.
Comments